class of 2009 basement bananas
 

These are cardaba, williams hybrid, basjoo and minis. And 43 victoria waterlilies.

not too bad for plants that were 1.5-2 inches tall a few months ago (January)

Re: class of 2009 basement bananas
 

Nice work Sandy! How much light you have to give them down there in the basement?

Re: class of 2009 basement bananas
 

Nice looking basement Sandy!, I'm guessing from the hanging wire in the one photo that you use light movers too. Great invention and money saver. Those are Victoria regia? Were they grown from seed? I've only seen pictures of the big ones. If I ever get a bigger place I'd be tempted after seeing Howard and Vickies to put another pond in just for a few hardy and select tropical lillies. And I know who to ask for the big show stoppers!

Re: class of 2009 basement bananas
 

Basement naners do crazy things when left alone for a long time tho, so watch out sandy, you might end up with a full marching band by may!

Shaggy

Re: class of 2009 basement bananas
 

Nice pics, Sandy! Is this your first year with the Victorias? We used to grow those each year in our pools at MBG. They are show-stoppers, that's for sure. How about those wicked spines on the undersides of the leaves? My guess is that is a form of defense for them so that things don't munch on them in their native habitat.

Re: class of 2009 basement bananas
 

Wow Sandy your growing Victorias. I tried but could not come up with the coctail to feed them to keep them going. What do you use? I have grown Euryale Ferox it is easier to grow. Do you sell the vistorias? They don't like shipping, I know. I am so jealous. I do grow N. minuta from Madagascar the truly minature lily.

Re: class of 2009 basement bananas
 

About time to go to Sandy's again! Last trip was with 6" of snow on
the ground and still coming down!

Re: class of 2009 basement bananas
 

I really liked the picture of the banana in the basement with the band! I'll have to go down there and check and see what they're doing. Maybe a spy-cam...lol...
Yes, the light is on a mover, just so I can cover more area with it. It's a 1000 w metal halide. It's hanging fairly low so the plants get good light, but make sure to keep your hair away from it. It gets so hot it will singe your hair (don't ask me how I found that out). They are victoria regia (that's one name for them) cultivar "Longwood Hybrid".
I've been growing these for about five years now. Yes, I ship them, and no it's not easy to handle them because of the thorns, and they are picky to ship but I have that all worked out now.Usually when they ship they are still able to be handled, they already have thorns, but not as big as the older ones.
Vicky, do you know I can't hardly kill victorias, I'm real good with them.Even if one gets kind of puny looking right after sprouting I can usually bring it back... I only lost one plant out of 44 this spring. But I had five seeds of the Ferox this spring and couldn't get them to go at all? Go figure! If you have them, I'd be interested in some sort of a trade/swap, whatever. I had heard they were easy, but apparently not for me.
It's also funny how good the basement looks in the picture. It's not that nice at all. Our house was built in 1890 and it's kind of a conglomeration of stone walls/cement that was poured sometime in the 70's to keep it from falling in, and floor jacks to keep the house from falling in (lol). We did paint the wall white in the growing area though, so maybe that's the reason for it looking good in the picture, or maybe it's all those plants distracting you....